The latest Sea-Doo newsletter includes a blurb and a link to a video featuring YouTubers, Stephanie, and Clay Cowart riding FishPros. The couple are the owners of the YouTube Channel, “Life By the Bow” and it’s all about their fishing adventures. They are fishing enthusiasts and grew up in the Florida Keys, where the fishing is phenomenal.
They own a boat and that’s where most of their filming takes place. However, when Sea Doo offered to send a couple of FishPros their way, they gladly accepted. A FishPro Trophy and a FishPro Sport soon arrived at the dock and the Cowarts were stoked to take them out. The weather wasn’t great, and they went fishing anyway. Stephanie took off on the new FishPro Sport and Clay rode the FishPro Trophy.
They utilized the Fish Pros to their full potential and took a lot of time to focus on versatility and all the awesome features such as LinQ and the useful electronics. It did take them a minute to get used to riding the FishbPros because of the small size when compared to their boat. On the flip side, the ease of operating and maneuverability couldn’t be beat. They had an epic day of fishing and were amazed to be off the coast fishing from jet skis. Check out the video for all the cool insights and awesome experience.
When you purchase a new personal watercraft, one of the first things you have to do is a proper engine break-in. Now there is speculation all over the internet and various forms at an engine break-in are not required. This couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Completing the break-in procedure is essential for engine life and performance. This is not exclusive to the personal watercraft industry, either. It is really for internal combustion engines at large.
High-performance motors that have tight tolerances between the engine bore and the rings of the pistons must wear in properly to have correct compression and seating when it comes to intake and exhaust valves. Some manufacturers like Sea-Doo intentionally detune the ECU from full engine performance until a time threshold is reached.
Above left: Never skimp on filling your watercraft with the factory-rated octane fuel. While modern 4-stroke engines have knock sensors that can compensate for lower-quality fuel (by increasing the quantity of fuel injected at each revolution), you’re not saving any money as mpg will decrease. Above right: Although not mandatory, we added a bottle of fuel additive to provide the fresh SVHO engine a little added zinc for better initial break-in.
Currently, we’re in the process of going through the engine braking procedure on a 2022 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO. When we received my ski from the dealership it came with almost no fuel in it. Now, this model does require premium gasoline since it is supercharged. Depending on where you live premium is either 91 or 93 octane, either is fine. Just remember to always follow the factory octane recommendations for fuel.
Above left: All ready to begin our break-in process at the ramp, we make a final check before launch that our drain-plugs are installed and straps are unhooked. Above right: Yamaha’s enjoy a very brief suggested break-in process – only 90 minutes of run time.
We also added an engine lubricant to the fuel that has a high concentration of zinc to help with engine break-in. This is not a mandatory step but is something we have done, and want to provide the engine that added protection from the beginning.
After our ski has reached the 90-minute threshold we will continue the same process until 120 minutes is reached. Once this is achieved, we’re free to ride the ski as we so please. Once the watercraft has five hours on the engine, we will do the first oil change to remove dirty oil that has contaminants from the break-in procedure. Again, this isn’t mandatory but an extra precautionary step.
After another five hours is on the motor, we will do a second oil change to make sure any breaking contaminants have been thoroughly cleared from the motor, and we will continue with oil changes every 10 hours for the life of the ski. This is what many will call “overkill” but we err on the side of caution when it comes to engine life.
We know we all want this step done as soon as possible but the engine break-in is critical to make sure the motor stays together. Because for a lot of us modifications are not a matter of if rather, a matter of when, even something as minor as a Stage 1 reflash has the potential to hurt your motor if it has not been properly broken in.
We will also not perform any engine modifications to this watercraft until 10 hours have been put on the motor. Some might say this is a little excessive, but it is what we have done in the past and it is what we are comfortable doing. At the end of the day, do what you are comfortable with because it is your money out there on the water. These steps may seem excessive to some, and that’s fine. Again, it’s your investment.
Above: Once we reached our hour-and-a-half mark, we were ready to enjoy our supercharged Yamaha GP1800R to its fullest.
Kick off the spring season with a new Bopenski Kickback Chair. They are priced to move at $169.00, which is 15% off the regular price. With less than 1,000 in stock for this season, order now so you don’t miss out on your new favorite chair. Aluminum and other components are hard to come by right now with the supply chain disaster, and like many other retailers, the Bopenski crew doesn’t know when they’ll get another shipment.
The Kickback Chair is not only for kicking back, it’s also a great chair for fishing from your jet ski. It’s perfect for the casual jet ski fisherman who has no interest in splurging on dedicated fishing ski. An affordable Bopenski Kickback Chair is the next best thing to a jet ski built for fishing. Okay, while that might be a stretch, think of the money saved by purchasing a Kickback Chair instead a fishing jet ski. There will be money left over for fuel, a fish finder, and sundries.
The chair provides enough stability for fishing and a comfy back so you can sit back and relax. If you grow tired of fishing, you can sit back and take a nap. As you know, we think this is the best non-performance after-market product to hit the PWC market in a long time. The easy set up and high-quality components make this an excellent buy! Order yours today!
Earlier this month, Yamaha Motor Corp. announced that a large percentage of WaveRunners sold over the last two years need an update to the fuel filler neck. Concerned that owners have pushed the gas pump nozzle into their WaveRunner a little too forcibly may have separated the fuel port (“socket”) from the filler neck (“hose”), allowing fuel into the hull.
The repair replaces the fuel port and secures the filler neck firmly. Thankfully, it’s a reasonably quick replacement to perform. Per corporate procedure, owners of eligible WaveRunners should have received a notice alerting them to the recall, encouraging all to contact their nearest dealership to schedule to have their watercraft updated free of charge.
The Watercraft Journal has included the complete list of affected WaveRunners in the table below. The model names listed are not what the consumer may know them by, but rather the internal corporate designation (ex. “FX1800” would be a FX model equipped with the High Output engine, and so on):
Model name
Model code
Model year
Affected PID range
FB1800
F3V
2021
F3V-0809781 to F3V-0814939
FB1800 (marketed as FX1800F-X and FX1800H-X)
F3V
2022
F3V-0814941 to F3V-0816580
FC1800
F3X
2021
F3X-0813421 to F3X-0822500
FX1800
F5G
2022
F5G-080 0101 to F5G-0801620
GP1800A and GP1800C
F4P
2021-22
F4P-0800101 to F4G-0805780
GP1800B and GP1800D
F4M
2021-22
F4M-0800101 to F4M-0802900
VX1050
F4N
2021-22
F4N-0800101 to F4N-0810860
VX1800
F4S
2021-22
F4S-0800101 to F4S-0806620
In addition to the recall notice, some are finding the engine compartments of their WaveRunners smelling like gas, or in rare examples, finding fuel collecting around the gas tank’s fuel pump/pickup plate. (See image below)
Although an official announcement pertaining to this occurrence in WaveRunners hasn’t been made by Yamaha at the time of this writing, there was a recall issued pertaining to this exact issue on Yamaha jet boats earlier this year. In regards to the jet boats, the repair was a new O-ring gasket fitted below the plate.
As of right now, if you own a 2021-22 Yamaha WaveRunner, we suggest: 1. you remove your seat completely or back the seat off of the mounts to allow the engine compartment to ventilate whenever stored (a good rule of thumb for all PWC); and 2. verify if there is any fuel on your tank (or nearby), or smell the heavy odor of fuel.
If so, do not start your engine. Fuel leakage is no joke and your safety is of the utmost importance, so be very cautious if you’re encountering either of the above two scenarios and contact your dealer’s service department immediately to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
It wasn’t very long ago that The Watercraft Journal introduced the first of its limited-edition UV-protecting, long sleeve riding jerseys. The first of these arrived in a very fun Bimini Blue coloration, but they weren’t meant to last. We’ve only got maybe a dozen left, and certain sizes sold out waaay quicker than we were expecting. Nevertheless, the few we’ve got are still discounted and can be purchased here.
In time for spring, we’re going to be offering a new coloration – one of the three shown above – and you’re going to help us pick! By either leaving a comment on this article, or joining the larger voting pool over on our YouTube channel HERE, you can vote for which of these three colors you want to see next. The WCJ Long Sleeve Riding Jersey is the ultimate riding shirt for those out on the water all day.
Made using Helios material proven to provide UPF 50+ protection, stellar stain resistance, superior water wicking and breathability. Each shirt features durable mesh lining the inside length of the torso all the way down the sleeve to the elbow. The WCJ Long Sleeve Riding Jersey is cut slightly larger than typical shirts including a longer cut torso. Pick the jersey color you want next and represent your favorite PWC magazine on the water!
Unlimited PWC launched a beautiful new dedicated Shopify website per their Instagram, and we love it! The layout is clean, simple, and user friendly. Thumbnails of each category are labeled and nicely presented on the home page.
Clicking a category takes you to a page of all items within the category. They are also nicely presented as thumbnails. There, you have the option to view items based on their availability.
Moreover, there is also a dropdown menu that allows you to sort the order you wish to see the items. You get to choose between eight different ways. For example, you can pick based on best-selling, price, alphabetical, and more. When you click a thumbnail, an array of pictures with a detailed description of the product appears.
Another new feature is a form available on each page for asking questions about a particular item.
You can also share the item you’re looking at with your Twitter and Facebook followers and you can pin it. That’s kind of cool, especially now with everyone on the hunt for hard-to-get products or if you just want to brag about your cool find.
Unlimited PWC has damn near everything you can want in stock, aside from jet skis. They now have several online catalogues available featuring apparel and PWC parts. Unlimited has thought of everything and we are super stoked for them. A newsletter sign up is available too for everyone to keep up with the latest news. Check it out! We know you’re going to love it!
SBT and Hydro-Turf, announce that they will sponsor the 2022 P1 AquaX racing series. Short block technologies also known as SBT along with Hydro-Turf will sponsor the 2022 race season in the United States. This season is a five-venue national championship and will start at the end of next month with the return of the AquaX world championship in the Bahamas this November.
As we know within the watercraft industry companies within the industry need to support racing. To keep racing alive for, the next generation of racers to come. The largest PWC aftermarket parts company in the world is now supporting the racing series. Along with Hydro turf which has always been a leader in the performance traction industry for more than 30 years.
This year’s series will consist of a five-month program of racing in Florida along with Indiana. Featuring pro and Am Enduro, along with a junior Enduro series. SBT ‘s president said “We’re excited about becoming title sponsor of the world-class AquaX championship with Hydro-Turf as a supporting sponsor. We look forward to developing the partnership to grow both the sport and our businesses. “
Now with this sponsorship and partnership SBT along with Hydro-Turf and AquaX. All hope to build upon this relationship for the betterment of the watercraft industry. With a true passion for supporting watercraft racing.
Original press release:
International personal watercraft promoter P1 AquaX has announced sponsorship agreements with Short Block Technologies (SBT) and Hydro-Turf for the 2022 race season in the United States. The 5-venue national championship will get underway at the end of next month with the return of the AquaX World Championship in The Bahamas in November.
Founded in 1997 and now the largest PWC aftermarket parts company in the world, SBT will be the title sponsor of the series – to be called the 2022 SBT P1 AquaX Race to the Bahamas – with Hydro-Turf, a leader in the performance traction industry for more than 30 years, returning as an official supporting sponsor. AquaX will stage a 5-month program of racing in Florida and Indiana featuring Pro and Am Enduro action with a Jr Enduro series.
Speaking from its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, SBT President CJ Lammers said: “We’re excited about becoming title sponsor of the world class AquaX championship with Hydro-Turf as a supporting sponsor. We look forward to developing the partnership to grow both the sport and our businesses.”
P1 USA Championship Manager Michelle Petro commented: “Strategic partnerships are at the heart of our business and working with leading international brands will add considerable value to our series, which will receive national television coverage on Bally Sports Regional Networks. Qualification details for The Bahamas World Championship will be published later this month.”
Kissimmee/St. Cloud in Central Florida will kick off the season at the end of April and the riders will then head to Sarasota in early July. The action heads north the following weekend when Michigan City and La Porte host events in the Indiana Series. The championship returns to the Sunshine State’s Atlantic Coast in August with Daytona Beach welcoming the racers, and the final stop in early September will be St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast.
This is the glove we’ve been waiting for and it’s now available at Unlimited PWC. We spotted the new gloves over at Unlimited PWC. The X-Light Glove series is a stellar addition to the lineup of new products that Unlimited PWC has on offer. These rad looking gloves are equipped with touchscreen technology on the thumb and index finger.
Easily operate your phone or tablet without the hassle of stopping to take off your gloves. The gloves have an UNL logo stamped in the palms that not only looks cool, but it also acts a grip. The index and middle fingers each feature non-slip grips for easy throttle lever operation. Each glove has a Velcro enclosure on each wrist for ease in putting on and removing the gloves.
The X-Light Gloves are made of a stretchy material for a lightweight fit. They are available in small, medium, large, and extra-large and come in black, white, lime yellow, and red. They look good and will make an excellent summer riding glove. Check them out now on the Unlimited PWC website. We think you’re going to like them, especially at the $40 price point!
Updated March 10, 2022 – As life would have it, previous plans were quickly thrown out of the window when heavy storms pounded middle Tennessee for 4-days straight. These flooded the waterways with debris, swelled the river by nearly 7-feet and kicked up the current to “too dangerous to let people out on the water” speeds – according to the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). This meant that our ride scheduled in late February had to be postponed to March.
So alas, here we are again! Yes, we’re going to try this ride this coming Friday, March 25th, 2022. All of the pertinent information is still below. We’ll be meeting at Old Hickory Dam Boat Ramp (address below) at 6am. We’ll be spreading out our fuel stops apart between 84 and 110 miles, so again, you’re going to want to bring extra fuel with you. Additionally, we’re “cannonball running” this, so we’re not stopping for food – so pack snacks and plenty to drink. Everything else is below:
Published February 22, 2022 – With a handful of daring lunatics committing to join me for an idiotic adventure, we’re going forward with this ride. Currently, weather predictions aren’t favorable: calls for early morning rain, air temps are forecasted with a high of 47º and coming after 3 days’ worth of rainfall, we are wholly expecting the water to be full of debris – so pay particular attention to objects in the water. Nobody wants to puncture their hull on a submerged tree branch at 60mph.
Sunrise is set for 6:23am. Expect to be at the ramp at 6am. It’s a long, narrow one-lane launch so it takes a couple minutes to unload. The address is Old Hickory Dam Boat Ramp (1250 Cinder Road, Old Hickory, TN 37138). We are planning to be underway at 6:30am sharp. Considering these conditions, it is extraordinarily unlikely that we will complete the 440-mile round trip. Rather, we will continue up the Cumberland River as far as we can until 12:30pm and turn back around.
The first scheduled fuel stop is set to be Clarksville Marina – some 80 miles downriver. Then, the next stop is Green Turtle Bay Marina, another 100 miles from Clarksville. (This long stretch is why bringing extra fuel is required – particularly for you supercharged PWC.) If conditions permit, the next stop is Paris Landing Marina, 40 miles down the Tennessee River, where we’ll fill up and retrace our path back to the Old Hickory Dam Boat Ramp.
Yeah, that’s right. We’re doing it in a little over two weeks’ time. Friday, February 25th at 6am to be exact. The Farmer’s Almanac says it’s going to rain. Even www.accuweather.com gives it a 58-percent chance of rain. We’re going to be watching the weather pretty closely the week preceding to see if Mother Nature changes her mind. If not, we’ll reschedule because riding 400-plus-miles at 60mph sounds like being covered in porcupine quills and then being shot at with an automatic paint ball gun. If we do call the ride for a “rain delay” expect it to be pushed back into March.
If you recall, we did this exact route last year on a 2020 Kawasaki STX 160LX all by our lonesome. If we can do it, you certainly can too.
The route itself is pretty simple: We start @ 6:30am at the bottom of Old Hickory Dam (mile 216); lock through Cheatham Dam @ 8am; and end at Paris Landing State Park (est. 220 miles total). Then we turn around and go back the way we came. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, that’s the rub. Traversing 440-miles in less than 11 hours takes careful calculation of fuel range and consumption, and navigation. We’ll be piloting our trusty 2021 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 and you know that girl is thirsty, so we’ll be packing as much extra fuel as possible.
Fuel is available at:
• Rock Harbor (Mile 175.6)
• Clarksville Marina (Mile 132.3)
• Lake Barclay Marina (Mile 59, 3 miles off river)
• Green Turtle Bay Marina (Mile 32) – TN River mileage markers start all over
• Paris Landing Marina (Mile 68)
Again, with early predictions calling for a full day’s worth of downpour, we may have to move this. Equally, we don’t want to ride the next day as rain runoff makes for a veritable floating mine field. Rather, we’ll bump it a couple weeks further up the calendar. This will have an average moving speed of 55-60mph, so if you’ve got something that can’t hang, you’ll be left behind. Equally, we’re not stopping for lunch so pack a sandwich and some granola bars to eat on the fly. We’re racing the clock on this one.
If you’re seriously interested in participating, reach out at [email protected].
The 2022 race year has officially kicked off on the West Coast with the 19th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300, a 300-mile long endurance race around the perimeter of Lake Havasu. Considered one of the most brutal races of the year, riders, pit crews, and their machines are pushed to the absolute limit to be crowned champion.
This year proved to be most trying for not only the 27 registered race teams, but the promoters and staff as well. Riders arrived to Crazy Horse Campground on Saturday morning and were met with bone-chilling 20-25mph winds. Crews were struggling to set the perimeter and chicane buoys. Safety patrol boats thrashed wildly in the surf-like conditions.
Local racer Mike Neuman told The Watercraft Journal, “Going into Saturday we all knew it would be windy and freezing. We started in the cover of darkness warming up trucks, layering up anything we could over wet suits: heated vests, neoprene jackets, gloves, waterproof socks, etc. The front gate guard informed us they might cancel the race. We all just laughed, “They don’t cancel the Mark Hahn for bad weather!”
“Ross [Wallach] informed us they were going to postpone for 2 hours due to rescue craft not being able to launch,” Neuman continued. Eventually, the promoters eventually made the call and postponed the race until Sunday. Many riders were outraged, stating they had made prior travel commitments and could not stay for the race. Others complained that the treacherous conditions were a key factor in making the race what it has become known to be.
Some protested, repeating, “Mark would’ve raced in this!” Many of those we asked for this story repeated Neuman’s sentiment, “Last year weather was even worse and we still raced. It was very sad, especially because several teams couldn’t stay and had to go home.”
Nonetheless, safety was the staff’s number one priority and a deciding factor in the result to postpone. Without correctly anchored buoys or properly staged patrol boats, not only would they run a risk of incorrect scoring, but a risk of life as well.
For Sunday, winds were predicted at 7mph and temperatures around 42°. As racers arose that morning, conditions fared even better – albeit pretty chilly. At the outset, water conditions were glass but began to “kick up” by the fifth lap.
Due to tight schedules with some race teams, the decision was ruled to adjust the race time to 3.5 hours plus a one lap format. This put more pressure on pit crews to time and counting laps so their racers were not left stranded out on the lake with the gas light on.
BRP Sea-Doo brand ambassador Anthony Radetic (#153 who competed in Manufacturer Stock class) had a strong and methodical strategy in staying ahead of his competitors, “My team and I focused on setting a steady pace and completing 5 laps between each pit stop, giving me some time to rest while the ski was being filled with fuel.”
This strategy earned Anthony the podium in his class, with 24 completed laps. He also took home the coveted Iron Man Runabout award. Mike Klippenstein and Ryder Wildeboer (#212 – 4-Stroke Stock) were the first competitors to cross the finish line on their Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner, completing their 24 laps shortly before Radetic.
Another notable win went to Brandon Warner (#21 – Pro/Am 4 Stroke Open) who also iron-manned and finished with 20 laps completed on a fully-built 2021 Kawasaki Ultra 310X (earning second in his class against Arnold Martinez and Nicolas Rius who claimed first in Pro/Am 4-Stroke Open), stated:
“The whole reason I felt like I could Iron Man-it is because of the awesome team I had behind me. Performance Fiberglass prepared the hull, while Dan Silva built my motor. They knew my ski was prepped and tested, so I was able to focus solely on getting myself ready.”
There was quite a variety of stand-up skis this year, from SuperJets to SX-Rs, and even a GP1 thrown into the mix. The first stand-up to finish was none other than an SX-R 1500 piloted by Justin Richey, Blake Wicklund, and Diego Urrea (#209 – 4-Stroke Mod). The 3-man team completed a stellar 15 laps.
“None of our crew or riders had ever done this type of race before,” Richey commented. “Planning and preparation started right after World Finals because none of us knew what to expect.” The team had its own share of setbacks, including a trailer bunk slider that detached and became lodged into their pump tunnel.
Luckily their crew chief was able to free the obstruction and they were back on the water in no time. So what was their claim to victory? A solid pit crew, impeccable pitting system, and knowing when to adjust given the rough circumstances.
“The original pit structure was to switch riders and fuel every two laps,” Diego mentioned. “After the first set of laps we quickly decided to switch riders every lap. The water conditions worsened to a point that keeping a fast pace was too fatiguing for two laps.” The constant exchange of riders also meant more opportunities to fuel and check for mechanical issues, paving the way for a solid win for this outstanding team.
Event creator, Mike Follmer expressed his gratitude saying, “Eighteen years ago, while attending the funeral to put my good friend Mark Hahn to rest I made a promise to him […] that I would work diligently to see that his […] name and memory were synonymous with the type of endurance racing he and I had spent years supporting and competing. I know that Mark and Nedra [were] looking down on us Saturday and [that he] was feeling very proud that he was being remembered in such a grand fashion.”
Sunday evening’s award ceremony welcomed over 150 in attendance where trophies and accolades were given. Despite its minor setbacks, the Hahn was once again a successful event – and the announcement for the 20th Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 was made only days after. So start preparing for 2023!
We also added an engine lubricant to the fuel that has a high concentration of zinc to help with engine break-in. This is not a mandatory step but is something we have done, and want to provide the engine that added protection from the beginning.
Unlimited PWC launched a beautiful new dedicated 
Speaking from its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, SBT President CJ Lammers said: “We’re excited about becoming title sponsor of the world class AquaX championship with Hydro-Turf as a supporting sponsor. We look forward to developing the partnership to grow both the sport and our businesses.”
